Several key Essendon players could be on the way out in what shapes as a busy off-season.
Orazio Fantasia, Joe Daniher and Adam Saad are all likely to leave the Bombers, according to club great Matthew Lloyd.
AFL Media’s Damian Barrett is also reporting that Cale Hooker is “not at all happy” at the Bombers while Michael Hurley could also weigh up his future.
Hooker (31) and Hurley (30) are contracted until 2021 and 2022 respectively.
“Those three players (Daniher, Fantasia and Saad) that Lloydy just mentioned, I don’t see being Bombers in 2021,” Barrett told Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“I actually feel from what I’ve been hearing, there’s some doubt now too about Cale Hooker about what he does.
“He’s contracted but he hasn’t been able to get into the team lately and it’s fair to say that he’s not at all happy and there might be a revisiting of his situation. Michael Hurley I think is also not as happy as he may have once been at Essendon. There’s a lot to play out.
“Adrian (Dodoro), who has been there a very long time, is under constant pressure given they haven’t won a final since 2004. There will be discussions around that.
“Now I’m not saying he’s going to be departing but there’s certainly pressure on him and others around him in that space.”
Essendon forward Shaun McKernan has been delisted while veteran ruckman Tom Bellchambers announced his retirement.